Cingular, MySpace, InfoSpace join as ringtone providers

Cingular Wireless, InfoSpace and MySpace.com have teamed up to allow undiscovered talents to create and sell their own ringtones, writes The Seattle Times.

The service, called Cingular Mobile Music Studio, allows bands with MySpace profiles to turn their music into a ringtone, even if they don't have a record contract. The ringtone is then sold on the band's profile page to help promote its music and to make money.

The MySpace service will work a bit like "American Idol." The artists will submit their songs; a panel of judges will determine whether the content is original, and then turn it into a ringtone. Artists will then be able to link to the ringtone from their MySpace profile. The ringtone will cost the standard $2.50, with 25 percent of the proceeds going to the artist. InfoSpace will also get a share; MySpace will not.

Artists will receive checks quarterly as long as the money exceeds $100. If the minimum is not reached, the money will roll over to the next period. The studio service is considered a beta launch, while all the parties involved begin to understand how it may catch on.

Regine | 8:51 PM | Ringtone Composers |
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